Posts Tagged ‘Mega Quarry’

Client Profile: North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce (NDACT)

April 4th, 2014 by Iler Campbell

NDACT is an incorporated, not for profit, entity which was formed in January 2009 by concerned citizens, including a number of farmers from Melancthon and Mulmur Townships.

NDACT was formed when members of the community gathered to voice their concerns about The Highland Companies plans to build a 2,316 acre “Mega‑Quarry” on more than 6,000 acres of prime agricultural land that they had amassed as of that date.

Concerned about the future of the croplands and water resources in the community and province wide, residents gathered together to rally opposition to the project.

Our relationship with NDACT goes back to 2011.  Iler Campbell provided NDACT with legal advice and assistance in their fight to stop the Mega‑Quarry and protect farmland and water in Ontario.

In late 2012 the Quarry application was withdrawn and in 2013 the land was sold to a farmland investment company.   Although this application has been withdrawn, there are still many communities around Ontario that are facing challenges with land use and agricultural protection.  NDACT continues to advance farmland preservation and the protection of water resources through its “Food and Water First” campaign.  You can find out more at foodandwaterfirst.com

Mega Quarry win shows it’s time for major agricultural policy reform in Ontario

November 27th, 2012 by Laura Bowman

Last week Highland Companies announced plans to withdraw its application to build a quarry in Melancthon Ontario.  The “Mega Quarry” has been a rallying cry for local food and agriculture reform, as well as aggregates reform in Ontario.

Now is not a time for farmers, environmentalists and foodies to rest on their laurels.  Ontario’s agricultural policy needs big-time reform.  For far too long Ontario has badly neglected the agricultural sector on all fronts, financial, marketing, trade policy, land use protection, water policies, and from a food security perspective.  The Mega Quarry dispute highlighted many of these problems.

Continue reading “Mega Quarry win shows it’s time for major agricultural policy reform in Ontario”

Aggregate hearings should include rural residents who are most affected

May 10th, 2012 by Laura Bowman

Our client, North Dufferin  Agricultural  and Community Taskforce, Inc. (NDACT) was surprised on Friday May 4 to learn that the Standing Committee on General Government would be commencing the review of the Aggregate Resources Act the following Monday May 7, and that aggregate resource reps were already informed and scheduled to appear.

To make matters worse, no hearings were scheduled in rural communities.  These communities are most affected by the policies in the ARA, which unfairly favour aggregate extraction over other policy objectives.  Our client wrote to the Standing Committee on General Government asking for more time for a more thorough review and for rural hearings.  This request was entirely reasonable and was granted yesterday when the Committee moved to request travelling hearings.

Read Carl Cosack, chair of NDACT’s letter here.